Car construction



July 9, E935. Q HINDAHL 2,007,272

CAR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Aug. l2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l [Nue/2Z502/ w//o MAW/m4 D. HINDAHL CAR CONSTRUCTION July 9, 1935.

Original Filed Aug. 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INM Patented July 9, 1935PATENT joFFljcE l l CAR coNs'rRUc'rI'oN Davidv Hindahl, Chicago, Ill,,assignor to Harry S.

I` Hart, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 12, 1933, serial No; `684,845

- 1 `i RenewedMarch 6,1935 .Y Y

momias.,4 (cl. 105409), t

This invention relates to anew and improved Y 'car construction and moreparticularly. to a car wall Vconstruction especially adapted for useiniy connection withcars ofthe hopper type.

The newl and improved car wall construction.

- of 4this invention produces the-combined-advan-` Y top of the hoppers.

tages of 'maximum capacity andfexternally posi- I tioned' side wallstakes and although the invenn tion is intended for application fornewlybuilt cars, itis also adapted for application 'to cars of a type now inexistence having inside stakes whereby through the application of thisinvention to such cars, new and improved wall constructions may beprovided without altering the under structure nor the bottom chords ofkthe car, but by merely applying and attaching the newlyconstructedwalls. 1 f j In cars of the hopper type, the load containing capacity islimited by the clearance diagram'of the Ycars together with the standardheight of the The hopper walls are con# structed ci metal plates and inorder to provide Athe requisite strength, the'plates are supported byvertically extending stakes located along the sideand end walls; `Thestakes are attached to top* andl bottom chords which `'with the stakescon-VV stitute the wall frame construction. Heretofore in end'eavoringto increase'the capacities` of cars of this'type, some have beenbuilt-with the stakes lmounted inside of the car walls, which enablesthev placement of the wall plates in the maximum outward positionpermitted by the limiting dimen- `sions for carV width. Suchconstructionhowever, produces a serious disadvantage ln that itexposesthe side stakes to wear and damage and deterioration by rust. Thematerial carried inthe car wears against the stakes in loading and*unloadingI and the protective painting is` Worn off whichL ability ofthe car in use. Furthermore, whereasVv the wall plates can be replacedrelativelycheaplyV and by simple operations, the replacement of` thestakesfas a part of the car frame is an expensive and moredifiicultoperation. Besides, wearr and deterioration of the plates does notweaken 'orvv impair the supporting frame structure ofthe can? It willtherefore appear that the designers and; builders of cars have. beenconfronted with two; conliicting diiculties, the rst of which' is. thel"objection to less .than maximum capacities as;

f ofitheicar stakes. On the other hand, those cars occasioned when thestakes are placed on theoutside offthe ywalls in order tolprovide thedesired protection for the stakes, and,' secondly, the undesirabledamage and deterioration .ofthe stakes as la part of the car frame whenthe stakes are 5 placed on the inside of the' car walls so as tov affordthe maximum capacity produced whenthe wall plates 4are positionedapproximately in the plane ofthe outer limiting dimensions of the car.

Prior.. to this invention carsof both types'have been constructed-andused bythe railroads. Inv those instances where maximum capacity wasless important, the stakeswere placed externally for the protectionbenet but with a considerable sacrifice inload capacity. In recentyears, however, increased capacity "has become more important with theresult that more recent` designs vprovide for ioutwardly placed wallsand internally placed stakes whereby the' maintenance and strength ofltheA car frame is sacrificed and damage and deterioration ofthe stakesis suffered in order to secure the wanted advantage of increased caVpacityff,` l i :The bottomsupporting chord of car constructions ofsthistypeare Ausually of angle cross-section having. a'vertical flange placedin the properV plane to permit the ready attachment thereto of the`bottom ends of thewall stakes While at the sametimeprovidlng alongitudinally extendingr attachment for the lower edges of the sidewall plates; Accordingly, those cars of reduced ca-Y pacity havingoutside stakes have been provided withlowerrchords 'as a part of theirYunder. conv struction which are placed slightly inwardly cithe'm'aximum outside plane ofthe car :so as tov abut against `the' innersurface of the side stakes andlserve asanattachingiiange for the bottomendloi, the wall plates. In this case the bottomA frame chords SWereplaced inwardly by the depth havingmaxmum capacity with the stakes onthe inside.' have been designed with bottom Vchords placed outwardly sothat the Vertical iiange thereof wouldabut againstlthe outside surfaceof the A stakes.andfprovideattaching iianges for Vthe side f Awallsplates placed substantially in theplane lof the maximum widthdimension of the car. i 4Flrior to. this invention,weiort has beenlmadel to overcome the problems above presented and to deviseaiconstruction' for cars which would embody ;both advantages of capacityand protection Y so. that the. stakes Ycould'beV placedexternally to`provide the desirable protection while at the samefr time,.thewal1plates could be positioned in the y plane ofpthe :maximum Width of thecar-solas to.' "Q 5 chords disposed inwardly from the plane oi' maxifmum permissible width. n

By referring to the disclosure of said patent it will be noted that thewall plates are provided at their bottom edges withk inturned portionsfor attachment to the vertical flange of the bottom chord so that arelatively simple and efllcient construct-ion is provided with all ofthe marginal attaching portions ofthe wall plates disposed in an innerplane to conform to the manner of attaching the inwardly disposed platesof the prior lcar designs but with their central portions,

deflected outwardly to occupy a position substantially in the plane ofthe outer dimension of the car.

However, the teachings of said patent do notY readily apply to the typeof car having underframes constructed for inside stakes which have theirlower chords disposed with theirvertical flanges substantially in theplane of the loutside dimension of the car. Application of the teachingsof said patent to the cars of the type last mentioned involves seriousand undesirable alterations at the lower edges of the plates andnecessitates undesirable openings or exposure of parts to permit theattachment ofv thelower edges of the side wall plates to themore widelyspaced vertical flanges of the lower chord. If the undesirable openingsthrough the plates fare to beV avoided, then the lowerV edgesof thestakes at,

the point of attachment to the lower chord must be exposed to theinterior of the car, or if this is to be avoided, then somespecialexpensive and unwanted covering plates or the like, must v be provided.l v

Accordingly, the present invention providesa side wall constructionwhich is adapted for application to cars having their lowerframechords.v

more widely spaced than are the chords of vthe car disclosed in saidpatent, whereby cars ofthis type may be built as new cars or the wallshereof may be applied to that type of car having maximum capacity withinternalstakes to providelthe added advantage of protection of thestakes, without in any wise alteringor changing theunderframeconstruction. When this invention isapplied to previously existing carsit is only necessary to remove the old walls and apply the wallconstruction of this invention vwhich can beimmediately attached to theunder chord and frame parts from which the old wall was removed. Theoriginal gusset plates placed internally of the car are perfectlyadapted forattachment tothe new. wall and if desired, the upper chord;can also be used. Furthermore, the new wall constructionof.

this invention is provided with slanting shedding surfaces for allofathe internally projecting portions thereof whereby complete andeflicient unloading of the car is realized when the car is inverted byunloading apparatus now in common use. l i

Thej nature of this invention be better understood by referring tothezaccoinpanying..

drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, one preferred embodimentthereof, and in which;

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the body of a hopper carconstructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing a portion of thewall construction and taken on the line A-A of Figure 1 and looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the lineB-B of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing the wallconstruction taken on the line C-C of Figure l and looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view with portions of the car, frame brokenaway and disclosing the construction of the side wall plate.

By' referring to the drawings it will be noted that the bottom chord IIis in the form of an angle support with the vertical flange thereofpositioned substantially in the plane of the maximum outward dimensionof the car. The upper chord I2 is of usual construction having adownwardly extending flange I3, disposed inwardly for f attachment tothe inner surface of the lstakes and to provide an attaching flange forthe upper edge of the side wall plates which are disposed inwardly asclearly illustrated in Figure 5.

Side wall plates I 4 may be of any suitable width depending upon thedesired construction of the car and as here illustrated, the three endplates are of less width than the central plates. It is preferable, butnot necessary, that each of the plates be of sufficient width to occupythe space between stakes and therefore the width of the plates will beselected according to the number and spacing of the stakes required forthe desired frame construction. Each of the plates has a top flange I5disposed in the inner plane and side flanges I6 and I'I respectively,also disposedr in the inner plane and which are made continuous with themain panel I8 of the wall plate by orlsettingrsurfaces I9 and 20,preferably inclined, as shown. It is rhighly desirable to have the uppersurface 20 inclined so as to provide the necessary shedding action whenthe car is inverted in the usual unloading operation.

The lower edge 2| of the plate is disposed in the same outer plane asthe main panel I8. In other words, the panel continues straightdownwardly and terminates at a point for ready attachment to thevertical flange of the lower chord I I. Side flanges I6 andl I`I areinclined outwardly at theirr lower portions as at 22 and 23respectively, so as to continuously join with the lower edge 2I of theplate which is in the outer plane. As illustrated in Figure 2, it willbe noted that the plates are adapted to bev placed side by side, toVform the continuous wall of the car and are preferably mounted withtheir side flanges I 6 and II in overlapping relation and'attached bysultable `means, such as rivets 24, to the vertical stakes 25.

'Ine stakes of this invention are preferably constructed in the mannerillustrated in the drawings so as to comprise an angle constructionhaving a flange 25 in the inner plane for the attachment of the wallplates and the flange i3 of the upper chord I2, and an outwardlyextending flange 21 which terminates in the tplane of the maximumpermissible dimension of the car. It will be noted that the flange 21extends slightly beyond 'the plane of the main panel I8 of the-- l2,007,272 wall plates as a slight clearance ymust be left on the platesfor rivet headsplates,` and thelike. Y

At the lower portion of the stakeftheflangc v25 is inclined outwardly asat 2B so as to terminate in an outer plane as at 29 for attachment tothe verticalflange ofthe lower chord il.

' outer edge of the outwardly extending flange 2l', preferably continuesstraight down so as to pro- Vide a-reinforcement 3D forthe portion thestake. In order toadd additional strength, an enlargement 32 may beVprovided along vthe edge of the flange 2l throughout the central andupper portion thereof.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, the inner plate 33 which is nowutilized in the standard carprotected by paint or o-ther material whichmayY be applied thereto. This narrow edge can be readily protected inpractice so as to avoid exi posure of the frame parts to the `road inthe cai'.

From the above construction, it will be noted that a car ofsubstantially maximum capacityis provided by virtue of the fact that thewall plates are for the most part disposed inthe plane of the maximiunwidth of the car while at the same Y time, the sidewall stakes areexterior of the that the side wall plates extend directly down platesand are thereby entirely protected `from the 'contents ofthe car and thedamage and deterio-V V ration occasioned when the stakes are placed in-'5 ternally.

Furthermore, this invention differs from the invention illustrated inPatent No. 1,628,591,

' above referred to in'that it is particularly adapted for the typeofcar having more widely spaced lower` chords of the type above referredto, so

wardly for attachment to the upper flange of the chord in a manner toafford a simple and eilicient construction with the stakes maintainedexternally of the walls. i

Although it is not specifically illustrated, it will readily appear thatthe wall construction here provided can be supported with the standardgus.-

set plates now installed in the type of car having' internal stakes andoutwardly placedwall plates so that it is only necessary in convertingstandard V car constructions, toremove the old wall and attach the newwall construction. In newly con-V structed carsjno alteration isnecessary in the '"1 underframe construction, gusset platesand likestandard'parts, as the wall'lends itself perfectly to application to thestandardY car constructions of the type referred to.; I claim:

1. In a railway car,"a wall construction com-..

prising stakes, a bottom chord having a portion disposed in a planesubstantially at` the outer face of said stakes and a wall portioncomprising a plate 'having its central and bottomedge portions disposedoutwardly substantially in the Vplaneof the outerface of said stakes andinwardly and laterally extending side edge portions attached to theinner face of said stakes, said bottom edge portion beingattached tosaid portion stakes and attached to said stakes, and said wall havingits bottom edge attached to said portion of said chord.

3; In a railway car, a wall construction comprising top and bottom chordmembers, side' stakes, and wall plates enclosing the spaces de lined bysaid chords and side stakes, '.said top chord having a vertical flangedisposed substantially in the plane of the inner face of saidstakes andsaid,` bottom chord having a vertical flange disposed in a planesubstantially at the outer face of said stakes, the top and bottom ofsaid stakes being attached to said ilanges respectively and externallythereof, said wall plates having theirl main portions disposedsubstantially in the plane of the outerl face of said stakes withinturned top and side edges for attachment to said stakesand` the angeof said upper chord respectively and a lower edge disposed substantiallyin thev plane of i the mainV portion thereof and attachedV to saidilange of said lower chord member.`

4. A side stake for railway cars of the character described comprisingan inner flange, and ar transverse flange at right angles to said innerilange, said inner flange being adapted for attachment to a top chordmember and a wall plate, saidiinner flange, at the bottom portion ofsaid stake, extending diagonally outwardly .and terminating in a planeoutwardly of the planeY of said inner ilange, and presenting means forattach-Y ment to a bottom chord in a plane near the plane of the outeredge of said stake.

5. A side stake for railway cars of the character described comprisingan inner ange, and a transverse ilan'ge at right angles to said innerflange, said inner flange being adapted for attachment to a top chordmember and a wall plate, said inner flange, at the bottom portion ofsaid stake, extending diagonally outwardly and terminating in la planeoutwardly of the plane of said inner ilange, and presenting means forattachment to a bottom chord in a plane near the plane of the outer edgeof said stake, said transverse flange being provided throughout aportion of its length with a reinforcingenlargement on its outer edge.

6. A carside stake having a ilange at its innerplane forattachment of aside wall plate and a surface in a plane outwardly of its inner planefor attachment to a bottom-chord, said outer plane beinginear the outerplane of said stake.

'7. In a car of the character described, the corn- Vbination of a sidestake and upper and lower chords, said'upper chord and stake havingcooperating and attached portions in an inward plane and said lowerchord having cooperating and attached portions in a plane outwardly ofsaid` inwardplane.

8. In a car of the character described, the com' bination of a sidestake and upper and lower chords, said upper chord and stake havingcooperating and attached portions in an inward planeV and said lowerchord having cooperatingV and attached portions in a plane outwardly ofsaid inward plane, and means on said stake throughout a portion of itsheight for attachment of a wall plate at the inner plane thereof, andmeans at the bottom of said stake for attachment of said wall plate insaid outer plane.

9. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord having a verticalflange, a lower chord having a vertical flange, said flangesxbeing inledge disposed in a plane substantially 'at theouter. face of said stakesand being -provided with spaced portions at the location of said stakesin` a plane substantially at the inner face of saidV spaced apartparallel planes, and wall sheets at-y tached to said flangesrespectively, the marginal portions of the sheets being substantially,in the plane of the upper flange Vfor the major portion of their lengthand in the plane of the lower flange for the remainder of their length,the central portions of the sheets between said marginal portions beingsubstantially in the plane of the lower flange for the major portion oftheir length and in the plane of the upper ilange for the remainder oftheir length.

`10. .A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord having avertical ange, a lower chord having a Vertical flange, said iiangesbeing in spaced apart parallel planes,.and wall sheets attached to saidflanges respectively, the marginal portions of the sheets beingsubstantially in the plane of the upper flange for the major portion oftheir length and in the plane of the lower flange for the remainder oftheir length, the central portions of the sheets between said marginalportions being substantially in the plane of the lower flange for themajor portion of their length and in the plane of the upper flange forthe remainder of their length, the marginal portions of adjacent sheetsbeing secured together.

11. A wall for-a railway car comprising an upper chord having a verticalliange, a lower chord having a vertical flange, said flanges being inspaced apart parallel planes, wall sheets attached to said flangesrespectively, the marginal portions of the sheets being substantially inthe plane of the upper flange for the major portion of their length andin the plane of the lower flange for the remainder of their length, thecentral portions of the sheets between said marginal portions beingsubstantially in the plane of the lower ilange for the major portion oftheir length and in the plane of the upper flange for the remainder oftheir length, and a stake having a middle part adjacent to and securedto the marginal portions of adjacent sheets, said stake being secured tothe upper and lower chords respectively.

12. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord, a lower chord,and wall sheets, each sheet comprising marginal portions at the sidesand top thereof and a central portion in a spaced apart substantiallyparallel plane, the lower parts of the side marginal portions merginginto the plane of the central portion, the upper part of the centralportion merging into the plane of the marginal portions, the topmarginal portions of the wall sheets being secured to the top chordcentral portion merging into the plane of thev marginal portions, thetop marginal portions of the wall sheets being secured to the top chord,the lower parts of the central portions of the wall sheets being securedto the lower chord and the side marginal portions of adjacent sheetsbeing secured together.

14. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord having anattaching part, a lower chord having an attaching part, said parts beingin spaced apart parallel planes, and wall sheets attached to said parts,respectively, the marginal portions of the sheets being substantially inthe plane of the upper part for the major portion of their length and inthe plane of lthc lower part for the remainder of their length, thecentral portions of the sheets between said marginal portions beingsubstantially in the plane of the lower part for the major portion oftheir length and in the plane of the upper part for the remainder oftheir length, a stake secured to the upper and lower chords,respectively, and means to secure said marginal portions and the stalretogether.

15. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord having anattaching part, a lower chord having an attaching part, said parts beingin spaced apart parallel planes, and wall sheets attached to said parts,respectively, the marginal portions ofthe sheets being substantially inthe plane of the upper part for the major portion of their length and inthe plane of the lower part for the remainder of their length, thecentral portions of the sheets between said marginal portions beingsubstantially in the plane of the lower part for the major portion oftheir length and in the plane of the upper part for the remainder oftheir length, and a stake secured to said chords, respectively, and toadjacent wail sheets.

16. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord having anattaching part, a lower chord having an attaching part, said parts beingin spaced apart parallel planes, and wall sheets attached to said parts,respectively, the marginal portions of the sheets being substantially inthe plane of one of said parts for the major portion of their length andin the plane of the other of said parts for the remainder of theirlength, the central portions of the sheets between said marginalportions being substantially in theplane of said other of said parts forthe major part of their length and in the plane of the other of saidparts for the remainder of their length, the major part of the length ofthe marginal portions and the central portions of said sheetsrespectively, being in different planes, and a stake secured to saidchords, respectively, and to adjacent wall sheets.

1'7. In a railway car, a wall construction cornprising top and bottomchords and stakes, said stakes being attached to said chords, saidbottom chord having a portion disposed in a plane substantially at theouter face of said stakes and a wall plate between said stake-s, saidwall plate having substantially its entire main portion including itslower edge, in a plane substantially atv the outer face of said stakesand attached to the bottom chord, and being provided with inturned sideand top edges attached to said stakes and top chord respectively.

' l DAVID HINDAHL.

